BendtedWreath

I was just a dumb kid that didn't factor in the time and place. Your version, however, could make for an interesting story.

I think @Philippe nailed it with the "horniness does make us do silly things, especially in our younger years." Especially in places one shouldn't, like a funeral home's restroom.

I tried to think back on who Owen could be, but it's just not coming to me. He's not that actor that was giving a false name, was he? Either way, on to chapter 2. Contains underage drinking & smoking. - This warning made me laugh because now we know for sure that Brandon's "plausible deniability" was for Al's sake back in the prologue. On the opposite side of the room, two large easels were set up in front of two large windows. - Did he make it on time for that painting he was finishing for the prize money? “Since when are we friends?” Brandon challenged him. - He has you there. “I like what you did to this space, reminds me if Mad Max and Auntie Entity had a child.” - Ha! What an image that creates. You haven’t said more than two words to me in, well, three years and seventeen days. - Oh, he wasn't kidding about hyperthymesia. Brandon's officially the kind of person that would win any argument on sheer recollection alone. Tyler wiped the sweat from his eyes and replied with a grin, “Well, I said see you after class, and it’s definitely after that class.” - Buddy, you are a year past the expiration date. And when Tyler smiled, which was often, he had the cutest dimples. - Well, that's one thing we share. “I never cared about that. Never really understood why everyone gave you shit about who you like to fuck.”/ “They had to give me shit about something,” Brandon replied as he pushed the hair from his eyes. - I like his way of thinking. You hold onto that confidence and don't let anyone try to put you down. “Stop insulting my domicile or I won’t let you suck on my pipe,” Brandon replied dryly as he began packing the small pipe. Apparently, Tyler seemed to miss the double entendre. - Flew right over his head. “Popular glory hole,” Brandon said with a laugh. “Though normally, I’m the one sucking the dick.” - I laughed so hard at this point. He had never been attracted to the way a boy smelled before. - Tyler, I think you're just not listening to these cues your own body is giving you. “You’re so close to what you’ve been wondering about all these years. Now’s the chance for you to find out what it smells like.” - Ha ha! Brandon's having so much fun with him. “Did you really fuck a senior citizen tonight?” - Ha! We're his witnesses.

They do say write what you know. It's up to us as to how we present it. I thought it was a great prologue.

I wish we had an applause emoji for likes.

My lips are sealed on anything I may or may not have seen before the posting of said scene. 🤐

Glacier Bay had no mad killers. - As someone who has lived from high crime rate areas to more high crime rate areas, I wish I had the money to retire in a "Glacier Bay" about now. That was exactly how Tyler felt, trapped by the ocean on one side and the mountains on the other. - Tyler, buddy, I don't think "trapped" is the best way to describe being between the ocean and mountains. Are you sure you don't mean "paradise?" "Now it’s time to pay the piper." - This brought a smile to my face. The Pied Piper's always been one of my favorite tales as a kid, and there were so many different versions of it. Almost makes me want to write a Pied Piper-like story myself. “You know since I never knew what the consequences of losing were going to be, I can cite a precedent that says I am not legally bound to fulfill the terms of the wager,” Tyler said bitterly as he tried to argue his way out of paying up. - Ha! I love that attempt to talk his way out of it. “So that’s your plan. I just wait in a stall until someone comes in. Then I shove my dick in the hole.” - Wait, a glory hole? He put his body as close against the partition as he could so the boy could have as much access to his throbbing cock as possible. - Ha! All hesitation gone in the face of sheer skill. I don't remember the last time I laughed so hard. I also like the juxtaposition of the prior Brandon chapter with this new Tyler chapter. Two completely different youth. Tyler stared straight ahead as he said softly, “The dude shot his load on my boot.” - And? Fair is fair. For the most part, he had always felt secure in his sexuality and made sure to never really focus on guys in a sexual way. - You don't say? So what if he sometimes looked at the other boys while taking showers in gym class, didn’t everyone? Or the way his eyes always drifted down to check out the bulge in a guy's shorts or sweatpants. - Tyler, buddy, I don't think "secure in your sexuality" is the best way to describe... Then the door flew open and a short blue haired boy wearing only a pair of paint stained shorts stood there with a scowl on his face. The boy asked bluntly, “What do you want?” - Oh! Wait? Blue hair as in our buddy from the prologue, Brandon? I don't know why I didn't connect the two having compared the two mentally earlier.

Thus AG47fox was in fact, SilverFox. - While Brandon's amused about the screenname, I'm amused about that dating app Wolfr. Most of his experiences had been with other, closeted or straight boys from high school looking for a quick blowjob. - This is one of the most relatable sentences I've ever read. His only real boyfriend, a boy named Owen, the previous year, had been a battle of who would top who. - That, I've never had much of a problem with, but I grew up with a 'beggars can't be choosers' mindset. His arousal might have been due to the prospect of finally being able to top someone or the lingering feelings he still had for Owen. It bothered him for a moment that he wasn’t sure which. - That last sentence gave us such an insight into Brandon's struggle. "Am I still hung up on Owen?" Just amazing. If he would leave for a sexy rendezvous with AG47fox, he’d have to cut corners just to get the piece done and run the risk of not winning the money. - I'd have tried to get that money first. But, seeing as how Fox was willing, I see why Brandon wanted to strike while the iron was hot. 'if you think knowing the atomic weight for silver is impressive, u should see my dic’ - Ha! Clever and gutsy. I wish I had half of Brandon's gumption. He had just dipped a fan brush into a mixture of red paint when his phone made a howling sound, followed by several more in rapid succession. - This part made me laugh so hard. I can host!’ The man sent his address. - Hook, line, sinker? “You’re about to be begging me to stick my dick inside you and you’re worried about if I’m old enough to have a drink.” - Brandon has a point. “I think I’m in love,” Al murmured before Brandon shoved his dick in as far as it would go. - Ha! Al rolled his eyes and asked, “Are you really going to sketch me like this?”/“Just like that,” Brandon said as he brushed the hair from his eyes. “I want to give you something to remember me by.”/“Like I’d forget this night" - That's what I'm saying. You're not exactly the forgettable type, Brandon. “You must kill at trivia nights,” - Right? He'd win every prize! I'd bring Brandon to every bar and kareoke within 20 miles of Glacier Bay. And if you aren’t as old as you say you are, stay off adult apps. - Even has me questioning if he's really eighteen, the cheeky thing.

Welcome to the forums, Andy (@Afri) ! You're with good people. Not so much me, I'm a dweeb trying to finish a vampire story. But the rest of the forum is full of fantastic story gems. You will laugh, you will feel outrage for the characters you connect with...and if you ever feel any eye allergens or dust specks flying into your eyes while reading something sad, I'm probably right there with you.

If I had two words to describe this read, it would be "too fun." The colorful characters and humor brighten up any a dreary workday, (A-hem, not that I was reading this during work hours...alright, you caught me Red Woohoo handed!). This story was very balanced and enjoyable from start to finish.

“Liam?” Just his name alone was a question, but for clarity, Gabriel added, “Why is the bed moving?”/“You were lying on the remote—it’s a sleep number bed. You know, you can adjust the mattress stiffness to your personal preference.” - HAHAHA! Liam foresaw very generous gifts for every Christmas and birthday that Kora and Harlow had, for the next umpteen years at least. - They're going to be so spoiled. “Whatever they want to do works for me as long as we have the house to ourselves tonight. I think I could use another private swim lesson…” - Haha! This was a fun read, though I'm too slow of a reader to have managed to read it all during my lunch break. I also caught all the 80s and 90s references, which is fitting considering the age group I'd imagine a father of twin teen girls would be. I really enjoyed it.

When their eyes met, there was a wicked, self-satisfied light visible in the pale blue depths even behind Liam’s glasses./Damn. Nerds really will take over the world. - Haha! Because Liam’s head was dipped down low as he spoke quietly to his nephew, Gabriel couldn’t see the expression on his face. But he could clearly see Brady’s—the kid was looking at his uncle like he saw only Superman, not plain old Clark Kent. - These doggone eye allergies are getting to me. Brady dove into his treat after Bonnie carefully opened the pint container of milk so Brady could reverently dunk one of the overly processed sandwich cookies into it, after first licking out the creamy center the way Harlow always did. - I know there's no wrong way to eat Oreos, however, dipping 90% of them in milk until they're soggy and then eating them that way as is? That's my preferred method. “Sorry,” Liam murmured. “When I thought about sweeping you off your feet tonight, this isn’t exactly what I had in mind.”/Gabriel snorted. “It's okay. I kind of like the unexpected, though I have the feeling my insurance agent won’t feel the same way when I have to change my homeowners policy.” - HAHAHA!

“You need a damn keeper,” Gabriel said with a grin./Are you applying for the job? - Haha! We sure hope so. I think French Toast Fridays are a pretty safe bet in our future - Let's go!

“Dad…seriously?” The incredulity in Harlow’s voice was topped only by Kora chiming in with, “I thought you liked Liam, Daddy!” - Ah, the bluntness of kids. When he returned, pushing up the sleeves of his shirt which seemed to fit more tightly across his chest than he remembered it fitting before, the girls, who were sitting on the edge of his bed, grinned at him like adorable, satisfied minions of Satan. - HAHAHA!

...assured Liam that Brady would help “liven up” what she deemed Liam’s normal—aka “stale”—daily routine - In other words, we need you to babysit, Uncle Liam! The amount of times my siblings have pulled this on me... Now, a little over ninety-six hours later, he would’ve happily made a very scandalously convincing argument by publicly blowing a homeless man in the carefully manicured streets of his suburban neighborhood for a taste of stale. - HAHAHA! But considering that the arm floaties kept Brady visible both in and out of the pool, Liam was all on board for the kid looking like an energetically moving, slightly damp traffic cone. - Haha! Creative imagery right there. Gabriel’s laughter should‘ve gone to Liam’s heart not his dick, but his biology clearly had its own thoughts on the matter of propriety. - HAHAHA! “Brady, that’s not polite, buddy. We always wait till we’re offered goodies.”/Brain, take your own damn advice. Gabriel Morgan’s goodies are totally off limits to your perv fantasies. - HAHAHA! Their exact words to me were, ‘We know you like Liam, daddy, so we need to make sure you don’t crash and burn cause that’d suck for you. - HAHAHA! “When I go for a hard sale, I assure you, you’ll know it.”

I loved this. Thanks for @Cia for the interview and for @JJQuinn for answering so candidly. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to see if I can read a couple of chapters of Just Keep Swimming before my workday drowns me in work.

I'd interview a Japanese yokai... or maybe even a Shinto god like Raijin.

I'm glad they figured things out and even brought the aunt with them!

That was a relief. I was worried Peter would come out of that locked fight missing an eye or limb or worse. Did Balar just gain a bit of self awareness?

@LJCC and @Headstall, I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to provide help and examples. I know it's @ChromedOutCortex you're helping out right now, but I am also learning and am appreciative of any and all information.

I would be careful when writing mixed POVs. The only ones I've seen that work well enough are full chapters of just that one person's POV.

I am hoping Peter will be able to give Balar a good wallop.

Oh, I had a lot of help on this one. I just had that one idea, a man digging up shrubs he spent a lot of time cultivating because he was getting a divorce and his initial thoughts were "she can have everything except the shrubs." The rest of the details were pieced together later, including the reason for the divorce and the heartbreak that came with it. I still don't think I conveyed enough of the complexity of that kind of struggle since I haven't gone through this specific kind of grief. But I do know the grief of losing loved ones, and the crazy things it can lead a person to do while going through an emotional disarray.